Clockwork time fuzes



' United States Patent [72] inventors Paul Kaiser,

Schramberg, Wurttemberg; Josef Mueller, Schramberg-Sulgen, Wurt temberg,Germany [21] Appl. No. 603,691 [22] Filed Dec. 21, 1966 [45] PatentedSept. 29, 1970 [73] Assignee Gebruder Junghans G.m.b.H.,

Schramherg, Wurttemberg, Germany, a corporation of Germany [32] PriorityDec. 22,1965 i 3 3 1 Germany [31 1 J 29,687

[54] CLOCKWORK TIME FUZES 3 Claims, 9 Drawing Figs.

[52] U.S.Cl 102/84, 102/71 [51] Int. Cl F42C 9/00, F42c 9/02,'F42c 9/04[50] Field ofSearch 102/78, 83, 8 4 8 2 [56] References Cited UNITEDSTATES PATENTS 2,164,115 6/1939 Lasserre 102/84 PrimaryExaminer-Benjamin A. Borchelt Assistant Examiner-Thomas H. Webb Attorney- Watson, Cole, Grindle and Watson ABSTRACT: A clockwork timefuz-e including an actuating mechanism, movement of which is controlledin part by a retarding means. An acceleration responsive mechanism isincorporated in series relation between the actuating means and a motorassociated with the retarding means. The acceleration responsive meansis operable to provide a first acceleration force transmitting conditionresponsive to relatively high acceleration so as to cause a relativelyhigh rate of movement of the actuating means at least partiallyindependent of the retarding means. The acceleration responsive means isalso operable to provide a second acceleration force transmittingcondition which is responsive to relatively low acceleration and whichis operable to cause a relatively low movement of the actuating means,governed by the retarding means.

Patented Sept. 29, 1970 3,530,797

Sheet 1 of 5 INVENTORS ic/'2 Kane/- Y TBSE Mae/flav- Patented Sept. 29,1970 INVE TORJ Pi u 2 K1 L a 6% Patented Sept. 29, 1970 Sheet PatentedSept. 29, 1970 v 3,530,797

Sheet 4 015 INVENTORS BY? K2 is er BY 175$ 97 Mud/er 44% ZZ I /(Q,

Patented SeptJZQ, 1970 5 ors I Sheet v IN VEN TORS M. 6M L a Kw w uJ DCLOCKWORK TIME FUZES Clockwork time fuzes in which the clockworkcontrols the transport and safety devices, are known. Such safety meansrelate as a rule to continuance performance operative when theprojectile is fired as to the fuze, in which a continuous weight isforced back against spring pressure and by return or back movement ofthe delay mechanism in and out. Such fuzes were heretofore onlyadaptable for a definite type of projec tile.

The present invention has for its object to provide a fuze which can beuniversally used and applied, that is in projectiles having high as alsolow freely operable inertia forces whereby also it will be set for selfand automatic inertia operation. It has utility also for artilleryprojectiles with high acceleration as well as rocket projectiles withextremely low acceleration.

in order to explain the essential features of the invention a clockworkfuze is described which in known manner as well as the mechanism as alsothe pellet carrier rotor is made safe by delay mechanism and inertiaweights.

ln accordance with the invention the safety of the occasional andexisitng acceleration of the projectile is automatic, in that in thepower path from the inertia weight to the delay mechanism, a member orlink is interposed, so that by high projectile acceleration the energydelivered directly from the inertia weight to the delay mechanism, bylow projectile acceleration, a retardation will automatically set in theenergy path. In a modified form of the essence of the invention a memberis provided in the power path at the inertia weight to the delaymechanism, which at high projectile acceleration, the accelerationmechanism will be disconnected, by low projectile acceleration thisdisconnection will occur automatically.

When the anchor or armature of the clockwork, in known manner, seated byinertia pins on an inertia weight, is secured, then in a further featureof the invention a concentric inertia shell or collar is subjected tospring action, which with a spiral groove and pin guide is slidable on astationary shaft, whereby between a ring-shaped inertia weight and aconcentric inertia collar or shell, a strong spiral spring is provided.The inertia ring weight is adjustable by complete return movement bymeans of a pressure knob-headed pin.

Adjacent the pill or charge carrier-swing slide, an inertia weight canbe provided in axial parallel relationship, and which in front on itsshaft a loose gear wheel is provided as the first drive to the delaymechanism, as well as a rigid switch wheel and also a conical stop meanswhich operates together with the switch wheel.

The rigid shaft of the clockwork armature safety device can preferablybe constructed from the known safety tube of the axially arrangedtorsion rod spring which with its front end is mounted to bear in abottom plate of the clockwork and which extends back rearwardly in thedirection of bottom of the projectile.

Further objects will be apparent from the following description whenconsidered in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal section of the clockworks fuze,

FIG. 2 is a cross section taken on line 2-2 of FIG. 1 in the directionof the arrows, and along the intersection path -1 FIG. 3 is a partialcross section taken on line 3-3 of HO. 1, and along the intersectionpath l;,-l;,.

FIG. 4 is a cross section taken on line 44 of FIG. 1 in the direction ofthe arrows, and along the intersection path 1 -1,,

FIG. 5 is a cross section taken on line 5-5 of FIG. 1 in the directionof the arrows, and along the intersection path l -,-l

FIG. 6 is a cross section taken on line 6-6 of FIG. 1 in the directionof the arrows. and along the intersection path 1 -1 FIG. 7a is a crosssection taken on line 7a-7a of FIG. 1,

FIG. 7b is a longitudinal section taken on line 7b-7b of FIG. 7a, andalong the intersection path 711-1 and,

FIG. 7c is an elevation view of the charge carrier-swing member.

Behind the clockwork there is mounted a ring-like continuous weight 13,which is under the force of three compression springs 14 arranged in acircle for feeding purposes. The ringlike continuous weight 13 has aconical inner flange 13:: at the front end thereof and at the back partof the ring Weight 13, a second continuous weight 16 is slidablyprovided. On the front or forehead of the continuous weight 16 there arepivotally secured two one-armed locking levers 15 on axially parallelpins. Diagonally opposite there are rigidly secured in the weight 16,the locking bolts or pins 12 which lock jwith the clockwork, in knownmanner, by gripping in the anchor. The locking bolts or pins 12 areprovided with a ring groove in which the free ends of the locking leversl5 grip and thus the pins 12 are secured against back sliding. Bothclosure levers 15 are held in contact in the ring grooves in the pins 12by means of spiral or flat springs 15'.

The fuze has in known manner, as an armature spring, a rod-like torsionspring which in its usual protective tube is connected at its front endto the bottom plate of the clockwork and stretches towards the back inthe direction of the fuze bottom as shown in the German Pat. No. 1,l79,l 35.

The protecting tube for the spring extends through the two inertiaweights 13 and 16. Around this protecting tube there is mounted a shaftor axle 19 which is provided by sliding on the tube and is securedthereon and in the shaft in the outer surface thereof there is provideda screw threaded groove 19a. On the sleeve 19 there is mounted bysliding action, a sleeve which is forced to the front by a feed spring11.

Between the inertia weight 16 and the brake sleeve 18 there is provideda strong feed spring 17 which is stronger than the spring 11 of thesleeve 18. A laterally directed pin in the sleeve 18, which extends intothe screw threaded groove 19a in the sleeve 19, will force the sleeve1.8 back by rotation.

A gear wheel 112 is securely seated on the brake sleeve 18 whichcooperates with a drive 113, which for its part grips in an anchor wheel114 to regulate the motion-of an anchor or armature 115. Thisarrangement will provide a delay structure, known per se, for the brakesleeve 19.

The inertia weight 16 is provided in its back face with an axiallyparallel blind hole with snap spring 117. This forms a catching pin 116riveted in the bottom plate and is provided with a press head-likemember 1160.

The operation of the described structure is as follows. In th positionof rest of the fuze, as known, the clockwork of the time control isarrested or locked by the return closure pin 12. Upon firing, theinertia weight 13 will be moved backward and its conical inner surfaceor cam 13a will strike against a single arm of the locking lever 15which grips into the ring groove of the locking pin and swings thislever, against the action of the springs 15', out of the locking pin 12.At the same time, the inertia weight 16 will return back together withthe inertia sleeve 13.

If the firing acceleration is high, then the return impulse will reacton the inertia weights 13 and 16 and the sleeve 18. When this is set inmotion then the delay or retardation mechanism 100, 190, 112, 113, 114,115 will begin to operate and runs so long until the inertia weight 16is caught at the rear by the press headed pin 116 and is disconnected.

Since the retardation mechanism has an unchanged running time, thesafety time limit is definite during the time that the delay mechanismis free to operate.

This time measure is dependent on. the acceleration of the projectileand changes therewith. The safety trajectory path of the projectile andtherewith the fuze will therefore change also.

The invention therefore strives to hold and automatically set uniformlythe safety flight distance without consideration of the acceleration.For this purpose the starting time of the delay mechanism will beautomatically shifted such that by high firing acceleration it will beincreased, by low acceleration it will be retarded.

For this purpose there is provided a strong feed spring 17 for theinertia weights 16 and 18. This regulates the running time of the knownretarding mechanism.

lf for instance the acceleration of the projectile is high, then thisspring 17 will be pressed together at maximum acceleration so strongthat the coils will be adjacent to each other. Thereby the sleeve 18will be set in backward movement and the retardation mechanism willbegin to function, so that the time point for the safety elements tofunction due to high acceleration will be preshifted. 1f the projectileacceleration is small, then the strong spring 17 will be only slightlypressed together and this will increase the return movement of thesleeve 18 and thereby the beginning of the starting for the delaymechanism. The time point for ceasing the fuze safety period willthereby also be delayed and the safety time period for the projectileremains the same for higher acceleration.

In such clockwork fuzes to support the safety time by a chargecarrier-swinging slide, is a known thought. Also such a safety featurecan be carried out in accordance with the invention for automaticadjustment of the acceleration of the projectile.

A modified construction is shown in FIGS. 70 and 7b. The known chargecarrier-swing member 21, which in known manner is under the influence ofa torsion spring 22, FIG. 1, relative to its rotation is provided withan inertia weight 24 which is held forward on its axle by a feed spring25. The inertia weight 24 carries in front a conical flange 24a andbehind this flange grips one arm of a two-arm lock lever 27 mounted onthe bottom of the fuze housing at 28. A closed spring on the pin orscrew 28 urges the lever 27 against outward movement. A delaymechanism-inertia weight 26 is seated on a shaft in parallelrelationship with the charge carrier-swing member 21 and with theinertia weight 24 so that three compression springs 29 arranged in acircle will force the weight 26 forwardly. The shaft 30 mounted inbearings in the fuze housing, is provided with a spiral groove 30a inwhich a guide pin 31 laterally projects from the inertia weight 26.

In front on the shaft 30 a ratchet wheel is secured thereon whichcooperates with a so-called pawl on ratchet lever 36. This lever 36seats loosely on the inertia mechanism toothed wheel 32 on the shaft 30.This wheel 32 meshes with a driven toothed wheel 32" which drives anarmature 34 by means of a toothed wheel 33. This structure is similar toa known retarding mechanism.

The retarding-inertia weight 26 has on the outside a laterallyprojecting pin 23 which projects into a groove in outer surface of thecharge carrier-swing member 21 and both coupled to control rotation. Thegroove in the outside surface of the member 21 serves as well for backmovement of the retarding-inertia weight 26 as also a rotation of thecharge carrier-swing member.

The operation as to the charge carrier-swing member 21 is as follows.

Upon firing the projectile, the inertia weight 24 will be forced backagainst its compression spring 25. The conical flange 24a strikesagainst the outer arm of a two-armed lever 27 at 28 and swings the innerarm out of its locked back position behind the inertia weight 26. Thisslides back against the pressure of its compression springs 29. Therebyit will rotate following its entry of its guide pin 32 in the spiralgroove 30a of the shaft 30. By the rotation the wheel 35 connectedtherewith will rotate therewith.

Due to this rapid rotation, which occurs due to higher firingacceleration, the teeth of the wheel 35 will ratchet under the arms ofthe pawl 36 so that the latter and with it the toothed wheel 32" willremain stationary and the retarding mechanism will not operate.

When now the acceleration of the projectile ceases, then the feedsprings 29 will press the inertia weight 26 again toward the front.

Hereby the weight 26 will control the charge carrier-swinging member 21over the pin 23 in the sharp setting. The lock cone or element 36 nowgrips the arresting wheel 35 and the retarding mechanism will nowoperate with delayed action starting up.

If now due to low firing acceleration, the inertia decline of theinertia weight 26 is slow, then the contact of the lock cone in thewheel 35 will be maintained, so that the retarding mechanism will beginits run with retardation while it retards the severe position of thecharge carrier. This operates to render the fuze safe before firing.

ln summary, during the initiation of downward movement of weight 26, thepin 23 will move downward through slot 21a to a lower position 23a,shown in phantom line in FIG. 7a.

The torsion spring 22 will rotate swinging member 21 so as to displacethe pin 23 to the phantom line position 23b at the base of slot portion21b.

Upward movement of weight 26, under the influence of springs 29, willdisplace the pin 23 to the circumferentially extending slot zone 210.The torsion spring 22 will now rotate the swinging member 21 through thecircumferential extent permitted by the slot portion 21c. This lattermovement of swinging member 21 serves to place the component 21 in anarming or actuating condition, consistent with well-recognizedtechnology in the fuze art and generally consistent with the armingconcepts featured in Kaiser et al. Pat. No. 3,124,074.

As will be appreciated, under conditions of high acceleration theretarding influence of mechanism 35-36 will be bypassed by the rapiddownward movement of the weight 26 and the thus induced free wheeling ofthe cog wheel 35. Under conditions of low acceleration, the retardingmechanism 35-36 will serve to control the rate of movement of the weight26 during downward as well as upward movements.

Those skilled in the art and familiar with the disclosure of thisinvention may envision additions, deletions, substitutions or othermodifications which would fall within the purview of the appendedclaims.

We claim:

1. A clockwork time fuze comprising:

retarding means;

motor means for actuating said retarding means, said motor means beingoperable to drive said retarding means; actuating means for impartingactuating energy to said motor means;

said actuating means, motor means, and retarding means defining a drivetrain for transmitting energy to said retarding means; accelerationresponsive means connected in series relation in said drive train andoperable to control the transmission of energy through said drive trainto said retarding means in accordance with acceleration imparted to saidfuze;

said acceleration responsive means being operable to define alternatelyoperable, first and second acceleration force transmitting conditionsbetween said actuating means and said motor means;

said first acceleration force transmitting condition being responsive torelatively high acceleration and operable to cause a relatively highrate of movement of said actuating means at least partially independentof said retarding means; and

said second acceleration force transmitting condition being responsiveto relatively low acceleration and operable to cause a relatively lowrate of movement of said actuating means governed by said retardingmeans.

2. A clockwork time fuze comprising:

retarding means;

motor means for actuating said retarding means, said motor means beingoperable to drive said retarding means; actuating means for impartingactuating energy to said motor means;

said actuating means, motor means and retarding means defining a drivetrain for transmitting energy to said retarding means;

acceleration responsive means connected in series relation in' saiddrive train and operable to control the transmission of energy throughsaid drive train to said retarding means in accordance with accelerationimparted to said fuze; v

said acceleration responsive means including kinetic energy absorbingmeans interposed in said drive train between said actuating means andsaid motor means;

said motor means including sleeve means operable to impart motion tosaid retarding means in response to axial movement of said sleeve means;

said actuating means including an acceleration responsive mass mountedcoaxially in relation to said sleeve means; and

said kinetic energy absorbing means including coil spring meansinterposed axially between said mass and said sleeve means and operableto compress in response to accelerating forces imposed on said fuze.

3. A clockwork time fuze comprising:

retarding means;

motor means for actuating said retarding means, said motor means beingoperable to drive said retarding means;'

actuating means for imparting actuating energy to said motor means;

said actuating means, motor means and retarding means defining a drivetrain for transmitting energy to said retarding means;

acceleration responsive means connected in series relation in said drivetrain and operable to control the transmission of energy through saiddrive train to said retarding means in accordance with accelerationimparted to said fuze; and

said acceleration responsive means including acceleration responsiveclutch means interposed in said drive train between said motor means andsaid retarding means.

